Edward Moore Kennedy took the oath of office once again. President Kennedy would outline his strategy for his second term. Ranging from a economic plan based on reforming the tax system, cutting taxes for the lower and middle class and increasing taxes on the rich. Many more of his plans was to reform both education and immigration.

In February a shock came to the public, President Kennedy and First Lady Joan Kennedy were divorcing. The proceedings would be civil and courteous between the two camps. New southern Republicans, hoping to prove themselves, raised hell against Kennedy. The "Southicans" would call Kennedy someone who was degrading the fabric of family values.

These were trivial but hampered the Economic Aid Package of 1981. After defeat in the House, Kennedy would be forced to submit the parts of the bill separately. The Tax Code Reorganization Act, the Tax Cuts for the Middle Class Act passed with wide support. The tax cuts for the lower class passed in a closer vote and the tax increase for the wealthy was fought to the death, barley passing. The tax code, tax cuts for the middle class and lower passed in the Senate but the tax increase for the wealthy failed.

In Spain, late February had a attempted coup by Colonel Antonio Tejero. Rushing into the Spanish Congress of Deputies, men with guns were at the ready for a "competent, military authority". The military authority would never come and Manuel Gutierrez Mellado would continue to order to desist. In anger and frustration, Tejero fired point blank at Mellado. The situation would be resolved in a bloody fashion but Democracy would live on, forever though tainted in blood.

President Kennedy with Mikhail Gorbachev

In March, President Kennedy met with new Soviet leader Gorbachev. The two would forge a more open dialogue between the USSR and the US. Both leaders would use their press to open up dialogue, with Gorbachev "talking" through the US news media to the American people and Kennedy through the Soviet news media. This approach would become common place for Russian and American leaders in the years to come.

"Things were changing. With the Soviet Union in a good way and the economy in a bad way. Still there was work to be done. Sargent walked in with news.

'We have some new news, we have to move around your scheduling but theirs now an opening to speak to the AFL-CIO at the Hilton' Sargent said. 'What happened to Kirkland?' Ted asked. 'Lane has caught a nasty case of the flu, Mr. President'. With that Ted fiddled with his pen in his hand for a few seconds, let out a 'hmm' and looked to meet Shriver's gaze.

'A President beats Labor Secretary anyday. Alright do what you have to do get me to the Hilton'. Ted said. With that, Sargent smiled and turned to exit the door."

In late March, President Kennedy would attend a luncheon at the Hilton Hotel. When it ended at 2:30, Kennedy would walk out and six shots would ring out. Two would hit a police officer, one would hit a secret service agent, one would hit Kennedy's press secretary and the last two would impact into the President himself. One would impact in his shoulder and another would lodge itself in Kennedy's lung.

As the President fell to the ground, secret service tackled the assassin. With that, Kennedy was rushed to the nearest hospital George Washington University. In great pain, Kennedy was rushed into the ER. There the surgery to remove the bullet in Kennedy's lung went wrong.

"I'll remember it like it was only a few yours ago instead of years. We went in, tried to remove the bullet from the lung. Little did we know it was a 'devastator', a bullet that should have exploded on impact. Well that's when everything became a bloodbath.

That loud pop rang out and blood spurted everywhere. The bullet had exploded in his lung. There's was nothing we could do, blood flew and the few that stood up immediately saw a horrible sight. I was the unlucky one, I saw the life drain from the eyes of a President, I saw the life drain from the country itself." - Dr. Giordano, Exert from Death of a Dream: The Assassination of Edward M. Kennedy

New President Galifianakis

"Today a national tragedy has occurred. A beloved man has perished in a cruel and sinister assassination. Today we must march on, to aspire to the dreams that Edward Kennedy hoped for our nation to reach. We shall reach for the stars and for our economic hopes. We cannot let the hope perish or the dream die." - Exert from President Galifianakis Address to the Nation

The nation marched on. In April, the Space Shuttle Columbia was launched on STS-1 mission or "Dream Mission". In May, the Kennedy Act is passed by Congress, prompting more checks for gaining a gun. Some conservatives will object, but the assassination of Ted Kennedy will push enough Republicans to support. In June, President Galifianakis expanded funding for disease research after the appearance of a growing immune system disorder.

President Galifianakis, wishing to fill the empty vice presidential position, chose Sargent Shriver. Many are surprised by this choice, including the Congress. Using Kennedy's death and the hope to carry on Kennedy's legacy in some form, Congress confirms Shriver in bipartisan fashion. With that done, a cordial but somber Shriver will take his place as Vice President by May.

Supreme Court Justice Robert N.C. Nix, Jr.

President Galifianakis made his first choice for the Supreme Court, nominating Robert N. C. Nix, Jr. to replace Eisenhower appointee Potter Stewart. After a fight over controversies in the 1960's and battles for reelection, Nix was confirmed by the Congress to become the second African American justice. Israel, under the new leadership of Menachem Begin, began bombing campaigns in Beirut to attempt to handicap the PLO. These attacks would lead to a worldwide condemnation and the US would embargo the flow of aircraft to Israel.

The later months of the year are up and down. In October, the US economy began it's decline quickly. The same month, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat escapes assassination from members of the Islamic Jihad organization. November had the Sandinista War grow and begin to expand to Mexico and Soviet and American diplomats meet in Geneva to discuss intermediate range nuclear weapons reduction.

December had the US increase embargoes against South Africa while the Communist system in Poland were being broken by Solidarity. War clouds grew as a car bomb destroyed the Iraqi-Syrian embassy in Beirut. Blame fell on Israel and forces were garrisoned. As military posturing overtook the Middle East and economic recession hit the United States, the year ended.

With the economy going downhill, President Galifianakis began to push for a revised budget early in the year. Galifianakis hoped to cut spending in a number of areas, while putting more funding towards job training and welfare programs. Republicans, in charge of Congress, vowed to fight to the death. The first proposed budget was exactly what Galifianakis wanted.

The military budget was slashed, welfare and job programs were expanded, the NASA budget remained the same. Republicans tore apart the budget, pushing one that lowered taxes, cut education, welfare and NASA. After two months battling, President Galifianakis found an unexpected supported in freshmen Senator Jim Lovell. Lovell led the fight to keep NASA's budget, while pushing for moderate changes.

Senator Lovell speaking for a moderate budget

After a fight, the Lovell supported moderate budget passed both the House and the Senate. Even though Lovell did not write a majority of the moderated budget, pundits will label it "Lovell's level headed Masterpiece". President Galifianakis signed off on the budget. A compromise, still a victory though for the Galifianakis Administration.

Israel, reeling from the embargoes on them, launched Operation: Peace for Galilee in March. The operation will send IDF into southern Lebanon. Syria and Iraq and appalled and garrison their forces to ready. Soon after, Galilee is the spark for the two Arab nations to declare war.

Both sides hoped to limit the conflict to Lebanon itself. This "82 Lebanon War" would be devastating to the Cedar nation for years to come. As Syrio-Iraqi and Israeli forced fought in Beirut and beyond, the Muslim Brotherhood rose up in Syria and Iraq and began a grueling guerrilla warfare. In response, Syrians will brutally suppress towns possibly harboring brotherhood supporters.

As Hama and Harran are massacred, Argentina leader Leopoldo Galtieri wanted to return a fervency to his nation and to his support. He decided to send forces in April to invade the Falklands Islands or the Malvinas. The world community came out in fervent opposition to Argentina and an "Empire Strikes Back". British forces would engage Argentine, but would not come to bear on account of discourse in Spain.

First British ground forces in Falklands

Argentine commando's snuck through Spanish defenses and enacted Operation: Algeciras. Scuba commando's planted timed mines on several British boats and swam back. Several hours later, a handful of British boats exploded in balls of fire. Britain played right into the Argentine hand's and restricted send some of their naval forces.

With this, the war would be slightly leaning towards Britain but the Grand Empire could very well handicap themselves. Meanwhile, the United Nations votes to demand that Israel and Syrio-Iraqi forces be removed from Lebanon and a UN peacekeeping force be sent in. Israel would not heed this as Begin felt that the US had sold them out to "Islamo-Fascist" alliances.

New Israeli Prime Minister Shamir

The battle over the Lebanon war came to a head in September when a demanding population in Israel forces the hand of Menachem Begin. With Begin resigning, a new worry appears with hardliner Yitzhak Shamir succeeding Begin. Shamir would try and work with the United Nations to bring about a peaceful transition, coming at the eleventh hour in December after conceding to public outcry. The Christman Protocols would sign a weary peace treaty between Iraq, Syria and Israel as UN peacekeepers were deployed in Lebanon.

The United States meanwhile, had suffered with gas prices skyrocketing because of the Lebanon War. Because of this, President Galifianakis had to deal with the pill to swallow in November. The Republicans increased their leads in both the House and Senate. Democrats gained several seats in the south of all places, but these were conservative democrats running on a "Good Ol' Boys" campaign.

President Galifianakis faced another slap to his face as Speaker Michel is taken down by his deputy Trent Lott in a brawl for the speakership. With a southern conservative in charge, Galifianakis only hope rested in the hands of the new moderate deputy George H.W. Bush.

"The President picked up the phone and dialed, it was late, but he knew the man on the other would be awake and lively. "Hello, George Herbert Walker Bush". "George, it's me" Galifianakis said mildly. "I know sir, everyone knows the North Carolina accent. What is it you need sir?". "Well George, I need to ask you something. Do you like Trent Lott?". "Sir if I may be blunt, I dislike him more than a bucket of lukewarm piss". Galifianakis smiled at what Bush said. He knew that a possibility was about to become reality. "George, you know there are things to be done for the nation. I've been working with the likes of you moderates for some time, now all that is in jeopardy. With Lott, things are about to grind to a halt. In this economy, that can't happen". "What are you proposing sir?" Bush enquired. "How do I put this...., a coalition of the willing"....

The year somberly ended. Gorbachev had just unveiled his plans to reform the USSR in the forms of "Glasnost" and "Perestroika". Poland was about to break from an increasingly weakening communist Eastern Europe. Wars waged and blood was spilled over two plots of land, one an island and the other the land of the cedar tree.

Richard M. Nixon 10th Anniversary Half Dollar

China was being beaten by upstart insurgents in Afghanistan and had much more blows to receive. For the United States, the economy was sour and conservatism was finally taking hold. For the end days of 1982, the United States held the 10th Anniversary of the assassination of Richard M. Nixon. A commemorative half dollar would be released for the occasion.

The year of ruckus and recession was over. Now the new year of 1983 dawned.

"Things were always hell on my uncle. People simplify things into either good or bad and since the victor writes the history books, the Democrats of today consider him something of a traitor. His only damn cardinal sin was working with Republicans, moderates at the time. Now those former RINO's are everywhere, so all I can say is that the Historians should really SHUT IT! Ow and President Perry can suck my you know what...." - Representative Zach Galifianakis, interview with 60 Minutes, 2007

The year opened with the huge shake up in the Soviet bloc. The nation of Poland have effectively broken off from the Soviet bloc with it's independent stance, now they only put their independence in writting. Hardliners in the Soviet Union called for Soviet forces to storm Warsaw and Krakow and reinstate the hardliners. Gorbachev, ever in step with the international world, accepted this, saying that if "An independent Yugoslavia can coexist with us, so can Poland".

In June, President Galifianakis declared a "War on Environmental Decay". The Galifianakis Administration helped craft the Clear Air Act of 1983 for the Congress. Republicans led by Speaker Trent Lott declared "a solemn declaration of war" on the White House. As debate raged, the ringing endorsement of the bill by George H.W. Bush pierced the noise.

Deputy Speaker George H.W. Bush

Bushes endorsement of the Clear Air Act caused chaos and anarchy in the ranks of the Republicans. Moderates rallied behind Bush, hoping to stick it to the Conservatives and especially Lott. Once again the wounds of 1976 were open again and the Grand Olde Party was in civil war. With support from the "Coalition of the Willing" and support from the American public, the Clear Air Act would pass the House and then the Senate.

Speaker Lott stating his disapproval of Bush

In the aftermath, Conservatives raised hell against Bush, calling for his "coup" from the deputyship. Moderate were deeply opposed to this and held Bush as a crusader for the "legacy of Roosevelt and Nixon". With the partisan gridlock and bickering, Bush was forced from the deputy position, but gained the title of de facto leader of the moderates and a possible presidential contender.

"We don't need a dang war against that kind of hot air. What we need to declare some war on is the hot air from President Galifianakis mouth!" - Quote from Jesse Helms, Host of the radio show The Right Direction

Also for June, the United Kingdoms went through it's cycle of elections for the year 1983. With a wounded economy and a weary war environment in the Falklands War, the Tories hold on to power after a intense campaign against Labour and Michael Foot. The SDP-Liberal Alliance also plays well and gains seats in the fights between the Tories and Labour. Another note of the election is several British papers printing headlines stating that "Foot Defeats Thatcher".

October became a month that filled headlines. In early October, South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan was killed in the bombing attack in Rangoon. Many South Korean delegates were in attendance for the laying of a wreath at the Martyr's Mausoleum in Myanmar. President Doo-hwan's death would be succeeded by Prime Minister Kim Sang-hyeop to become acting President.

In mid October, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop of Grenada was killed by firing squad after being release from house arrest by demonstrators. Instability grew in the tiny island nation as an alliance of Carribean nations made a plea to the United States. Led by Dominica, the "Carribean Alliance" made their case on the instability of Grenada and worries it posed on the stability of the whole region. With President Galifianakis worried about Cuba's attempts to shape itself into a regional power, the President signed onto a plan.

The plan was to work through the United Nations. In a lopsided vote, the UN General Assembly voted against the actions on the island of Grenada, but talk about sending in peacekeepers were slow because of the situation of Lebanon. Carribean nations weren't pleased by this and called it "inaction". Cuba would be the one to act and sent in peacekeepers into Grenada.

Cuban Soldiers in Grenada

In several months, they would overcome the Grenadian military rule and implement the Marxist Government once again. With Cuba's intervention, Republicans took it as a chance to jump on President Galifianakis inaction. In a bloody brawl that spanned from Congress to the headlines, the President's polls took a dent that he didn't need. With a victory for Cuba, the President had been delivered a black eye because of the situation.

In a more light and somber moment, President Galifianakis signed into law an act that made Martin Luther King's birthday a federal holiday. While many conservatives, both Republican and Democrats, voted against the bill the northern representatives and moderates helped carry the bill through. The closeness was something that scarred the President, saying that "if things have become that partisan, we're sunk in '84".

In November, The Soviet Union was rocked by hardliners in a different form. Militant communist hardliners hijacked an airplane on the runway and held the passengers hostage. With several children of the intellectual elite, the hijackers called for money from these families and passage to the PRC, a safe haven for several hardline groups. The Soviets refused and an operation to storm the plane was put into action.

In the wee hours of the second day, Soviet special forces took the plane, killing all of the hijackers. The civilian body count was high, for so many were killed by the hijackers or wounded in the firefight. The Soviet Union would gain criticism abroad as some called the operation by the Alpha team "heavy handed".

"We arrived early on boarding Aeroflot flight 6833. It seemed simple, get on the plane, fly back to Georgia and god bless Gorbachev for loosening flight travel in the then Soviet Union. We sat ourselves down in our seats, middle of the plane. I got a window seat, 'unlucky me' I thought at the time. I was chatting it up with Davit about Gorbachev's 'Perestroika'.

How couldn't I, it was exciting, hope for prosperity and a free USSR under Premier Gorbachev, full of life in comparison to Brezhnev. Funny how everything changes with men with guns. Funny life can change that quick" - Quote from Gega Kobakhidze - A Flight of Friends

The year war over. After a year of setbacks and victories for all sides, the roaring '80's kept on going. Wars around the world, ideological battles and a spirit of renewal was moving right along. The new year dawned, one full of fight and fury.

3) What's the point of having both "Election What-Ifs" and "Alternate History"?

Good question. The two sub-boards do have a different focus. As a general rule topics that focus on a specific election go in "Election What-Ifs" while topics that cover a broader span of time, or don't have anything to do with elections go here. "Election What-Ifs" also tends to get topics that go past a single election but have as their point of departure (POD) an event that happens during an election campaign.

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Quote from: Ignatius of Antioch

He that possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to bear his very silence. — Epistle to the Ephesians 3:21a

This is really interesting. To me, the seventies, with all that went on with the Cold War, Nixon, detente, stagflation, and all the rest, can seem like a really interesting decade, especially in this timeline (Three Republican Presidents in only two terms!). Anyway, too bad Reagan lost twice. I'm hoping for a Jack Kemp or Barry Goldwater Jr. Revolution soon

This is a great time line, but I've noticed an inconsistency. In the "Chronicles of Hate" which takes place roughly around 1973, you have George Bush being a Senator, while much later, between 1980 and 1984, George Bush is the Deputy Speaker of the House. This was probably an oversight on your part.

This is a great time line, but I've noticed an inconsistency. In the "Chronicles of Hate" which takes place roughly around 1973, you have George Bush being a Senator, while much later, between 1980 and 1984, George Bush is the Deputy Speaker of the House. This was probably an oversight on your part.

Thank you for the heads up, that was an easy little change. Still, I'm happy that you like the TL so much and I hope to entertain.

The first months of 1984 were dominated by Lebanon. United Nations peacekeepers were being attacked by christian and muslim militants, Beirut was a wreck and the people were crying for working government or for the UN to leave. President Galifianakis wanted the peacekeepers to stay and do their job. Republicans seized on the growing worry and called for the United States attention to be focused on China, not Lebanon.

From three months, the United Nations Transitional Authority in Lebanon(UNTAL) attempted to stamp down a leave date. Riots occurred against and for the peacekeepers to stay. Finally August was set as the leave date and a weary populace would be exposed to civilian government once again.

In April, in response to the upcoming Tax Day, Senator Ronald Reagan and Representative Ron Paul introduced the Reagan-Paul Gold Standard Act. The act would return the national monetary to being backed by gold. Liberals on both sides of the aisle tore into the act as a "lovely piece of 19th Century legislation". Congressman Paul found it a hard time to pull together a fighting change for the bill to pass.

Senator Reagan with Congressman Paul

Aid came in the form of Jack Kemp. Kemp. a Congressman from New York, would lead a group of economic conservative Northerners into supporting the Gold Standard Act. Soon, conservative Democrats from the South and American Independents headed into the fold. The bill was divisive and passed in the House.

For the Senate, a weary many voted against the bill and defeated it. With the Reagan-Paul Act slain, it had increased Jack Kemp's appeal for the 1984 Republican Nomination and raised the issue of hard currency again. It had also help blur the line between moderate and conservative Republicans in the House. This was a good sign and a hope for the upcoming election that unity could be achieved.

"We said we wanted to make money honest. I'm not going to give a speech on my views of monetary policy, but see this little piece of paper? This is an I.O.U. It says Federal Reserve on here, but there is absolutely nothing guaranteeing that the purchasing power of this piece of paper will not collapse tomorrow other than our faith, and our hard work, and our muscle, and our might, and our capital and labor.

I am a radical believer in the idea that the dollar should be so honest, so sound, so trustworthy, so good, so predictable, so lasting in value, that it's as good as gold." - Exert, Jack Kemp campaign speech, 1984

August claimed more Chinese peacekeepers than any other month in the term of occupation. Because of this the term "August Blood Harvest" came into meaning in the Chinese mindset. Their former allies, Pakistan, had pulled out troops and now were guarded along their border against mujaheddin fighters. China was alone in their fight.

Unrest against the occupation grew internally and in Afghanistan. Riots broke out casually in the Chinese controlled zones. To deal with this, harsh crackdowns were ordered and any leaders against the Chinese occupation were labled "mujaheddin fighters" and imprisoned. Chinese forces grew more sloppily over time and with the strain of internal order, mujaheddin fighters pierced deep.

With the ever advancing encroachment of mujaheddin fighters, China began a massive pullout of it's soldiers from the country. Hotel Kabul would become a symbolic statue to the defeat of the Chinese. The hotel would be the center of control for the Chinese in Kabul. With the draw down, a van loaded with explosives rammed into it and took out several dozen Chinese higher ups, soldiers and civilians.

Chinese tanks pullout of Afghanistan

"All hope had already been lost in the Chinese adventurism into Afghanistan, the destruction of Hotel Kabul was only one of many sparks to ignite the Chinese Revolution for Democracy. Death after death, sons were heading home to Beijing in body bags. People could no longer yearn under the oppressive yoke, naturally dissent bubbled. In the Chinese society, the regime would not allow dissent even to bubble, keeping every pressured over a decade.

Still my days as a soldier, fighting for the simple banner of Communism was to be spit on by the future days. We may have stripped the bonds from the workers, but with freedom comes the insanity."-Former Colonel Deng Wan-Shoo, current Military Teacher in Beijing, quote from Adventurism of the Dragon

The remainder of the year was a mosaic of varying scale. September brought a healthy competion of sorts between the United States and the USSR in space. Both the newly inaugurated Soviet Space Shuttle Korolyov was launched shortly before the US Space Shuttle Discovery own launch. Both shuttles would of course aid in the continual construction of the World Space Station(WSS).

October brought about the "Hong Kong Spat" between Great Britain and the PRC. China demanded a return of Hong Kong in "due speed", Britain would have nothing to do with the nation that invaded Afghanistan and abused it's people. With America united behind Britain against the Chinese and the Soviets claiming neutrality over the issue, China would back off fearing that the strain could exacerbate the internal issues. For now, Hong Kong would remain under British authority.

November had Cuba flexing it's muscles again, supporting the victors of the elections in Nicaragua, the Sandinista Front. Cuba would send supplies in the form of weapons to the new leaders to help put down insurgents against the leftist government. With Nicaragua coming into it's sphere of influence, Cuba is now becoming a regional power, although a minor one.

The year was over, with it the next would be one of ups and downs and victories for the opposition on all sides.

The Democrats: Although President Galifianakis was battered goods, no major opponent appeared to challenge him for the nomination. Vice President Shriver had been speculated to retire and not seek nomination as Vice President, but that wasn't true. Their was a small but pushy "Drop Sarge" movement. Still Sargent was nominated and the Galifianakis/Shriver ticket began their underdog campaign.

One bright highlight of the convention was the song sung by John Lennon from his new album, Paraiyar.

The Republicans: As peaceful as the Democratic nomination was, the Republicans was the exact opposite. Two major candidates appeared, Representative Jack Kemp and Governor Dick Thornburgh. Kemp was the "Man with the Golden Vote", while Thornburgh was the "Hero of Three-Mile Island". The primaries became a bitter hit and run battle, with Kemp and Thornburgh trading blows between each other.

The Reverend Jerry Falwell also ran, titled the "Christian Conservative" in contrast to the more Libertarian Kemp. Falwell's run helped siphon off votes that would otherwise have went to Kemp. Because of this and his blend of conservatism and moderation, Dick Thornburgh won the nomination. To appeal to the more conservative Republicans, Thornburgh chose Barry Goldwater, Jr as his runningmate.

In another overture to conservatives, support of a gold standard was added to the party plank and Thornburgh pledged to bring in conservatives into his cabinet.

The American-Independents: Former South Carolina Gubernatorial candidate William Westmoreland won the nomination because of a strong draft over Meldrim Thomson. To appease and extend to the northern conservatives, Thomson was carried over to the vice presidential position. The Westmoreland/Thomson ticket will expouse a strong conservative and military mantra, but Westmoreland will make a strong case for education reforms.

The General: The general election had the unlikely pairing of Thornburgh/Goldwater run easily in front. Championing a Reaganesque "Thornomics" to solve the economy, nearly ran away with the election. Westmoreland did the dirty work that Galifianakis didn't want to do, as he attacked Thornburgh over support from Jesse Jackson. In the end the Republicans gained a landslide victory over President Galifianakis.

Sorry about the long delay but Part 15 will be up on either Monday or Tuesday. It has a pillar of the whole plot(The Chinese Democratic Revolution) and I'm wondering of splitting it into a 15.0 and a 15.5 parts to cover foreign affairs and domestic affairs in detail.

Sorry about the long delay but Part 15 will be up on either Monday or Tuesday. It has a pillar of the whole plot(The Chinese Democratic Revolution) and I'm wondering of splitting it into a 15.0 and a 15.5 parts to cover foreign affairs and domestic affairs in detail.

Yeah!

By the way, why is this called "Forever Mankind"? Does it have something to do with what you mentioned about China? And, sorry for bugging you like this, but what's the status of you Ross Perot TL?

Sorry about the long delay but Part 15 will be up on either Monday or Tuesday. It has a pillar of the whole plot(The Chinese Democratic Revolution) and I'm wondering of splitting it into a 15.0 and a 15.5 parts to cover foreign affairs and domestic affairs in detail.

Yeah!

By the way, why is this called "Forever Mankind"? Does it have something to do with what you mentioned about China? And, sorry for bugging you like this, but what's the status of you Ross Perot TL?

Thanks! The reason behind the title "Forever Mankind" is it is a quote from the Nixon speech that began this TL about the "Moon Landing Disaster". As for my Perot TL, it's sadly on hiatus, because I'll be trying to focus my energy on this TL for now.

Well I decided to try and cram everything into one unified post. Hopefully it came out well enough. Enjoy!

Part 15: The Chronicles of Hectic Matters

President Richard L. Thornburgh

"After my time of numerous positions of dignity and power, they cannot ever equate to the position I now preside. This Presidency I hope is to be one of dignity and compassion. To show to the world that this nation is still a city upon a hill.." - Exert from President Thornburgh's Inaugural Speech

President Thornburgh quickly went to business. He would hold his promise and would appoint conservatives to high up cabinet positions. Professor Jeane Kirkpatrick for State, Ronald Reagan for Defense, Alan Greenspan for Treasury and Jack Kemp for Commerce. Several other nominations won't be so pleasing. The nominations for Energy and the Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Education and Agriculture would be the major battles.

TIME, 1985, Jackson's Nomination

For Housing and Urban Development, Thornburgh named Democrat Jesse Jackson as the nominee. Conservatives tore into Jackson, so did Jewish Congressmen. Thornburgh came out to support Jackson, calling him "the best man that knows the urban environment, from the inner city to the ghetto's". After intense debate and armtwisting, Jesse Jackson is confirmed as HUD Secretary.

Agriculture nominee Bob "Devil" Dole would face some scrutiny by the more partisan conservatives, but was confirmed. The nominee for SEE, former President Mark Hatfield, was forcefully rebuked by Congress by the sword of the conservatives. William Westmoreland's nomination as Education secretary has the opposite results, conservatives are fine with but liberals are angered at this choice. In the end, Westmoreland is confirmed.

In the House, things were transpiring against the Conservative Republicans. The vote for the Republican Majority leadership is a drag down contest. Speaker Lott is challenged by Congressman George H.W. Bush. Bush, being backed by freshman moderate Republicans, is able to peel off a tight victory over his nemesis.

With his victory, Bush will ascend to the Speakership and to show his gratefullness to the ever stronger Libertarian Republicans, rising star Ron Paul is made Deputy Speaker. Trent Lott, nearly ostracized because of the growing influence of Libertarian and Moderates, does a shocking thing. Lott will break from the Republican Party after being offered the position of American Independent House Minority Leader. Weighing his options and his local alliance with the American Independents, Lott made the stomach turning decision.

"I hope to lead this ragtag cavalry against the man in charge, new Speaker George H.W. Bush. Someone who only wants to turn his back on all that the moral majority has done for the Republican Party! That is why I today change my allegiance to the American-Independent Party!" - Trent Lott, 1985

"Well it's nice to see the true colors of Mr. Lott. Not Red like Republicans, but green like those American-Indy whackos." - George H.W. Bush, 1985

Even with the highly polarized Congress, President Thornburgh would begin to implement his "Thornomics". Without a major unifying opposition leader to rally behind, Republicans march forward and pass tax cuts and deep deregulating laws. Other effects is to streamline welfare and to pass one of Thornburgh's pet projects, disabled rights, in the form of the "Americans with Disabilities Act" of 1985.

NERVA Schematics

Two events occur in the area of space exploration. President Thornburgh orders NASA to scrap the usage of Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application(NERVA) in the planned Mars mission. This will quiet the worries of the use of nuclear engines in space and the heavy cost of NERVA use. Instead more effective and safe measures will be used, still though the Mars date will stand at 1995.

While troubled in politics, the Soviet Union announce their hopes of a manned Venus flyby by 1990. To spearhead this, the newly designed Heavy Interplanetary Spacecraft(HIS) will be used, borrowing design elements from the NASA "Red Tomorrow" designs. These two events show the stark differences in the two powers space dominance, with the Soviets of Venus and the US of Mars.

China had been bubbling and stewing over the withdrawl from Afghanistan. Now on the mark of the 10th Anniversary of the Tienanmen clampdown in the 70's, the Chinese youth pour into Beijing to protest. Suspicious already over their defeat in Afghanistan, the Chinese government would use harsh tactics to suppress the protesters. Many were imprisoned, some were killed.

Instead of quieting the troublemakers, it endeared many to the protesters and spontaneous protest broke out in major Chinese cities. As the imposing threat loomed over the regime, they once again made threats of use of military force against the protesters. The protesters wouldn't head this and would grow instead of shrinking in fear. The Beijing regime would order the use of force against the protesters across the country.

This message would never make it to many of the military forces poised to take the many cities, as Reformers in the military would make their move. Ever since the "Regime of Four" solidified their rule in the 70's, reformers have been working quietly through out the government, waiting for the moment to overthrow the corrupt regime. Soldiers began their revolt, turning on their fellow soldiers in violent means by bloodshed or peaceful means as joining the demonstrators. Still, near spontaneous warfare began to break out across China.

Scene of the Battle in Beijing

As street to street warfare broke out and the military seemed to crumble, a fierce and bloody battle began in the capitol of Beijing between the head forces of the reformist coup and the current regime. Protesters, soldiers and civilians would be engulfed in the bloody and long maw of combat in the capitol. In an audacious move, three of the regime leaders are captured, one will be shot while attempting to flee. Though victory has been declared in the wreck of Beijing, still numerous battalions and soldiers are pledged to the Communist dream.

With the populous in a majority of support of the reformers and the military fractured, the reformers had the upperhand in the conflict, still a Civil War had erupted in China.

"Tanks rolled by left and right. Flying blazen flags of the red and yellow or the defaced reformer flags of red and blue. Some idiotic people stood in the way of several barreling regime tanks. Sweet, stupid, heroic people they were. If the situation was different, if the ideals of democratic revolution had not burst into the use of the bullet, I may have done something similar in heroics. Still I did not, I lived through the carnage of the shining city of the Eastern coast. They, they were simply crushed under the weight of the regimes tyranny and the tanks treads. That is what I remember of the Battle of Beijing..." - Quote of Wang Weilin, from A People Amass: The New Revolution

Defense Secretary Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva Conference

President Thornburgh and Soviet Leader Gorbachev met in a meeting with their advisors in the neutral city of Geneva to discuss the new Chinese Civil War. Both Gorbachev and Thornburgh agreed to neutrality in the situation militarily in China, letting Thornburgh to give a Hatfieldesque China statement to the press. With the Geneva Conference on the Chinese Affair(GCCA) done, President Thornburgh arrived in Washington to address the nation. In his address, Thornburgh stated that though not military aid would come, that solidarity must be shown with the demonstrators and the struggling masses in China.

As the world's most populated nation bubbled with revolution and civil war, America sat in a peaceful time internally. The Soviet Union was shaking and heaving back and forth because of Gorbachev's reforms and independence movements were growing in it's borders. The world was in the stages of changing and the remainder of the 80's would parallel this same temperament. The new year dawned and an era of uncertainty was coming forth.